Watch out Kate Spade, Jamie James is out to change the purse market for good. This NH lawyer turned entrepreneur designed the cellfolio, a wallet that has a patented snap and Velcro system to hold a smartphone in place, a clear viewing window for an ID, space for a few credit cards, cash and a place to attach keys.
The cellfolio is made in the United States out of Italian leather. James, of North Hampton, hopes the Jamie James Collection Cellfolio will replace purses-with women buying them in multiple colors to accessorize with outfits. If this sounds like a lofty goal, give her a chance. James introduced the first cellfolio in July 2011 and has since sold about 5,000 through word of mouth and trade shows alone.
The cellfolios come in bright colors such as purple, pink and orange, with coordinating fabric inside. They sell for $35 to $58, including a men's version without a wrist strap. They are named after places-including the Hampton, Rye, Manhattan and Princeton-and vary slightly in style to meet different needs (phone on outside or inside, ID on outside or inside, for example).
What I've really tried to do is simplify and organize your life. I call it freedom in the palm of your hand, says James, who works full-time as a probate attorney and is a mother of four. I kind of looked at men and [often thought] they have simplified their lives. I just think for a woman, a pocketbook is a just a place for junk. At the suggestion of her youngest daughter, 5 percent of profits are donated to Smile Train, a nonprofit that funds cleft palate surgery for children.
James used to juggle her wallet, purse and cellphone, and found her college-aged daughter's solution, a plastic jelly case, useful, but not the level of sophistication she sought. James used her retirement savings to fund her business, including $5,000 for a logo design and about $10,000 for a website. She expects to make back her investment sometime this fall. She uses college students as brand ambassadors, giving them a percent of the sales they bring in. She also gives them to doctors and other professionals, who then show them to colleagues.
She has recently been contacted by potential investors and is considering her options. This is the product that works with any business person. They are running between clients, they don't need a pocketbook, she says. The fun part for me comes when I see people using something I've created.
For more information, visit www.jamiejamescollection.com.
Current Issue - May 2024